A tax cut lifted personal incomes by 1.0% in January but consumer spending edged up a mere 0.2%. The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow rising 52 points to 12,182 while Nasdaq lost 9 points to 2772.
On the upside
Ventas (NYSE: VTR) will pay approximately $5.7 billion in stock to acquire Nationwide Health Properties (NYSE: NHP).
Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG) reported sharply higher fourth quarter earnings on Friday that beat analyst expectations.
